Do you lubricate the pins before installation?

[Sludgenutz]

I have a general question...

Do you lube the pins of the tubes before installation?

I am a little bothered by the prospect of repeatedly pushing/pulling on the pc board mounted preamp tube sockets of my Mesa 50 Cal. plus. The power tubes are no prob, since they are chassis mounted. The thought of finding the best tone is being tempered by my fear of popping a trace/solder point on the pc board, or worst case damaging the pc board itself.

Would a sparingly applied coating of di-electric grease (the clear vaseline-looking stuff) be advisable? Any other product recommendations or tips?

 

[Guitarzan]

use the DeOxIt.

 

[cesjr]

Yep, Deoxit will make them slide in nice and easy. Plus it will clean the connections.

 

[fatboy135]

i prefer to lubricate paz vega p****y :lol:
i changed maybe hundreds of tubes on my life and i never need to lubricate the sockets or never damage the pcb.
everyone has his own tricks i could replace a tube without any perceptible movement on the pcb. If i have a cam i could record a video for you, but my economy doesn´t allow me to buy that cam.
my trick is to enter the tube with a bit angle and do circular movements till the tube fits well, using that trick so softly it´s impossible that you see any pcb movement or bend

 

[Guitarzan]

i prefer to lubricate paz vega p****y :lol:

Gordo, Does that come in a can? :wink:

 

[cesjr]

paz vega

She sure is pretty. :wink:

 

[Timbre Wolf]

my trick is to enter the tube with a bit angle and do circular movements till the tube fits well, using that trick so softly it´s impossible that you see any pcb movement or bend

Don't forget to gyrate your hips!!

Actually, I use the same technique - gentle circular motion and steady, gentle pressure - when installing tubes. Never need lube (just like John Wayne), but if pins are really dirty, the DeOxIt is okay for cleaning.

- T

 

[fatboy135]

ocassionally you could also clean with alcohol ( not to drink it ) and then keep the alcohol out with a toilet, it is a cheapest way to clean contacts
paz vega is near to be a pornstar :wink:
what about doing the offical paz-boogie board??

 

[Timbre Wolf]

keep the alcohol out with a toilet

Don't quite know what you mean here - mistranslated?

You might want to try that again, a different way. Unless you're really talking about cleaning alcohol off tube pins by swirling in flushed toilet water, which is odd, but posssible, I suppose. I try to keep an open mind

- Thom

 

[Guitarzan]

Good one Gordo!

 

[fatboy135]

my poor english :lol:
I means that you need to dry up the pins or contacts

 

[alejandro]

That was great. I think that gave us all a little smile. The image evoked is just curious!